Twenty Eight Years and Crazy About Him!

Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." ... So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:18, 21-24

My amazing husband and I just celebrated our 28th anniversary. I am so honored to be married to this wonderful man who knows what it is to truly love with your whole heart and soul. I can't help but love him back in the same way. As a young woman I never imagined that love could be as wonderful as it has been for Ernie and me.

My parents were salt of the earth people that worked so hard to provide and care for twelve children. What I never really saw was affection and tenderness. I know that they were of a generation that didn't express their emotions, but I wish so much I could have witnessed expressions of love between them.

My brother Ruben, who was their caretaker in their final years told us of the most tender moment he ever witnessed between our parents. In my dad's final year of life, he was in the hospital. We knew that he had chosen to stop treatment for his heart condition and that he would pass away, it was only a matter of time. They released him to go home with the knowledge that he only had so much time. When my brother brought him home and my dad saw my mom, they went straight into each others arms and wept. That was the love that I wish they would have expressed growing up. This was such an emotional moment for them and for my brother who had never seen them demonstrate that kind of affection. The thought of that still brings tears to my eyes.

I, on the other hand have had the great blessing of being married to a very openly affectionate man. A man that is God loving, protective, generous, caring, and romantic. He has not a selfish bone in his body. He is the whole package. My kids will never have to wonder about our relationship. They have always been blessed with witnessing our love for one another. A love that is unconditional and an extension of the love that Our loving Father in heaven has for us.

I pray that our children always cherish the covenant of marriage as Ernie and I have. In their own marriages they never forget that they become one body one spirit. Marriage and family is an extension of the relationship with the Father, Son, and The Holy Spirit. I pray that they understand that God joins them together to bring forth life and above all, to love! I know that with a passion to love and serve Our Lord they will have marraiges as beautiful and blessed as Ernie and I have!